Editorial November 10, 1917 Issue

Hearty Cooperation

William P. McKenzie

One thing should appear in every community in which Christian Scientists dwell, namely, that they are citizens of the best quality. Mrs. Eddy clearly sets forth this ideal when saying on page 70 of "Retrospection and Introspection": "The right teacher of Christian Science lives the truth he teaches. Preeminent among men, he virtually stands at the head of all sanitary, civil, moral, and religious reform. Such a post of duty, unpierced by vanity, exalts a mortalbeyond human praise, or monuments which weigh dust, and humbles him with the tax it raises on calamity to open the gates of heaven. It is not the forager on others' wisdom that God thus crowns, but he who is obedient to the divine command, 'Render to Cæsar the things that are Cæsar's, and to God the things that are God's.'"

Call war the great calamity if you will—how shall even this be taxed so that one may build him a road leading to happier conditions? There is one clear example of opportunity in the call from our government to avoid waste. We have been too long familiar with precept, and hve often said, "Willful waste makes woeful want." Now has come the call to us to practice what we have preached; and it will be well if this be done with cordiality and happiness, with a view to giving as well as receiving the blessing which the demonstration will involve.

In a free country there is apt to be an extreme development of individuality in the case of a few, who become accustomed to criticize with acerbity everything done by governmental authority. To them the essence of freedom is in resistance to authority. This is not the ideal of Christianity as set forth by the apostle Peter, who says: "Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men." No reluctant standing in the background is justified here; whereas a hearty doing of good in cooperation with those trusted to govern and direct is indicated.

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